Automatic advertising device.



No. 636,337. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

E. J. HOWARD. AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING DEVICE.

(No Model.)

AL UT OMATIC *1 WITNESS INVENTOR I m QT. D f, ATTORNEY w: ucmus Farmsco. Pmnaumo" WASNINGTON. u. c

' UNITED STATES EDWARD J. HOl/VARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MARYA.

SULLIVAN, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATICADVERTISING DEVICE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,337, datedNovember '7, 1899. Application filed February 15, 1898. Serial No.670,344. (No'modeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic AdvertisingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic advertising device or apparatus.

The object is to produce a machine or apparatus which will notonlychange at intervals the advertisement intended for observation, butpresent certain attractions connected with the operation of the machinethat will excite the curiosity of observers to such an extent that theadvertisements will not only be readily read and observed, butremembered. In this machine, however, the motive force is not constantlyin action. It is released at periods by a tripping device acted upon bya ball.

The machine includes novel means for elevating the ball and indischarging the same on the respective chutes. v

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my devicewith the window pane or glass removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationon line a: 00, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, are views showing theposition and the operation of one of the pockets for elevating anddischarging the ball on the chute. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line yy, Fig. 1.

Letter A represents a casing or box with sides and end pieces, as shown.The front and rear of this casing in this case are covered by a plate ofglass B, held in place by suitable grooves cut in the side and'endframes. The casing or box is supported in the center by the axles a,upon which said box revolves, and these axles are supported in the frame(J, surrounding the casing or box, as shown. Within this frame is placedthe mechanism for turning the casing, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) whichcan be clockwork or electricity. The casing is divided by the (see Fig.2,) which support division-strips D, the incline chutes or ways E and F,(seven on each side,) and they are arranged, as shown in Fig.

2, for the purpose of receiving the end piece'of the frame 0.

and conducting the ball P. At opposite corners of this casing and inopposite compartments 6 f are placed the pockets G H, each attached to atripping-lever g h, fulcrumed to the end pieces of this casing, asshown. The outer ends of these tripping-levers have attached to thempins 9 72. which are intended to engage with a stop 6 secured on (SeeFig. 2.) These pockets are made, as shown in Fig. 3, one endentirelyopen and one side half open, but closed by a hinged lid 9 whichassumes certain positions as the casing turns or revolves (see Figs. 3to 6) for the purpose of holding and carrying the ball up anddischarging it on the chute. Now when the ball P leaves the pocket G(see Fig. 1) it is thrown upon the chute E opposite the mouth of saidpocket. This chute is in compartment e and pocket in compartmentf. Asthe ball descends the chutes E and reaches the last one, E it will dropinto the pocket H. Now the weight of this ball in dropping will depressthat end of the tripping-lever h and raise the end having the pin,thereby lifting said pin sufficiently to clear the stop 6 The casin g isnow free for the clock or electrical mechanism to turn it, which it willdo in direction of arrow. As the casing turns or revolves it carrieswith it the pocket H, containing the ball that has dropped therein andlies as shown in Fig. 3. As the pocket ascends the lid g will fall, asshown in Fig. 4E, and close the opening through which the ball entered(see Fig. 5) and leave opening 9 open. Now when the pocket assumes theposition shown in Fig. 6 (which is when the casing has completed itsturn) the ball is free to roll out of opening g upon the chute.

To sustain the lid or shutter g as a flooring for the ball to roll outupon when in the position shown in Fig. 6, I use any suitable stop,placed either at the outer end of the shutter or at or on the hinge orpivot-point.

Until the casing turns the chutes E are on the right-hand side of same,but when the box turns over these chutes are on the lefthand side, andvice versa. Now when the ball rolls-out of pocket H, which has by theturning reached the top, it will fall upon chute F and travel down theother chutes F and drop into pocket G, which is down. The tripping-leverg is now acted upon and the casing free to turn, and as the said casingagain turns that pocket performs a like function of holding the ball andwill discharge it again on the chutes E This cycle of operation willcontinue so long as the power employed holds out. This feature of mydevice presents an attraction. It not only performs a useful function,but on account of its novelty becomes a subject of curiosity, therebyattracting the attention of an observer, which fact is desirable withthis class of inventions.

To utilize the momentum of the casing for a specific and useful purpose,I have placed above the casing the revolving advertisingholder J, therims j of which being provided with pins m, which engage with the pin 0on the casing. Now as the said casing swings around into place, asbefore described, the pin 0 will strike the pin m and revolve the holderJ one-quarter turn. To prevent the holder revolving backward, I use thepawl r, secured on frame 0, which engages with the notches j in the rim(See Fig. 2.) The pin of the revolving casing or frame resting againstthe pin of the rim of the advertisingliolder will check the same,revolving in an opposite direction when the frame is at rest. Thus byevery revolution of the casing I can display an advertisement.

The glasses covering the front and rear of easing can haveadvertisements on them, and one of these glasses can be omitted and inplace thereof a card having advertisements thereon used.

What I claim is- 1. In an advertising-machine, and in combination withthe casing, the revolving frame suitably pivoted supporting a pluralityof incline-chutes, arranged as shown, two pockets, attached to fulcrumtripping-arms, connected to the frame, said pockets containing openings,and a hinged lid, acting as a lid to one opening and a platform to theother, for receiving and discharging the operating-ball, and means fortripping said frame, consisting of a ball traveling down said chutes anddropping in said pocket for acting the tripping-arms as described, andmeans for revolving said frame, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic advertising device,the receivin g and dischargingpockets or boxes,with a receiving-opening and discharging-opening, and ahingedlid,closing and opening said openin gs,as described thetripping-levers,to which the pockets are attached, fulcrumed on therevolving chute-carrying frame, and provided with tripping-pins, actingon stop on the supporting-frame; the revolving casing supporting aplurality of chutes as shown, said casing revolving on suitable axlesWithin the encircling frame, and means for revolving said casing, andmeans for automatically tripping said casing, consisting of a ball,traveling along the chutes and operating the pockets, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of February, 1898.

EDWARD J. HOWARD. Witnesses:

M. A. SULLIVAN, F. BARRETT.

